It's the middle of the night. You’re awakened by a noise. Someone is in your house. What do you do?

When it happens at 148 Maple Drive, homeowner Jeff Shaw gets his gun and goes downstairs to investigate while his wife calls 9-1-1. It’s their home, after all. Jeff has to protect it. He finds two men in the kitchen and shoots them both. Dead.

The incident puts great strain on Jeff and his family. He wants to believe they just need to get on with their lives and everything will return to normal. But it’s not that easy. The dead intruders belonged to a gang, ANG, “Ain’t No Game,” that now wants revenge. And one of the gang, an ex-con who goes by the name I-Man, knows more about the break-in than he’s letting on.

It starts with a threatening phone call. Then it gets worse. The police, unable to protect the Shaws, suggest they move away for a while. But Jeff isn't going to be intimidated from his house. Homeowner With a Gun takes the reader on a suspense-filled thrill ride as this everyman fights to save himself and his family, while something a detective said plays in the back of his mind: Maybe the intruders broke into the wrong house. Happens all the time. You wouldn’t believe how often...

My Review:

What a well written & insightfully captivating novel. This is a very deep story that is about so much more than simply the suspense that Hawley provides. He takes off with a fast pace and maintains it throughout the novel. Hawley’s plot twists kept me on my toes while the story kept moving forward. His visual descriptions kept everything in focus and lent credence to the plot line.

Hawley’s characters are intricately developed and easy to relate to. He ensures that he presents both sides of the story while remaining deeply in the storyline. Characters on both sides of the story are equally well developed. Hawley allows us to know their rationales, letting us get to know everyone in a well rounded manner.

This explicitly believable story left me on the edge of my seat and gasping in turn. It’s definitely well worth picking up.